Posts Tagged ‘Twitter.’

The baseball world was disappointed Friday when the Chicago Cubs had to announce that their beloved “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks had passed away at the age of 83.

Fans on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posted photos of Banks with a note of how he had affected their life. Whether a Cubs fan or not, Ernie Banks was well-liked by anyone connected with baseball.

Despite many years of playing on losing teams in Chicago, the always-smiling, upbeat Banks always had enthusiasm for the game and was its best ambassador next to Hank Aaron and Yogi Berra

He was famous for always saying, “It’s a great day for baseball. Let’s play two”!

The two-time National League MVP in a 19-year career with the Cubs, had a .274 average with 2,583 base hits, 512 homers, 1,636 RBI’s in a Hall of Fame career. He played from 1953-1971. He hit 40 or more homers in a season five times. Other career highlights and awards include: 14-time All-Star, a 1960 Gold Glove winner, 2-time NL Home Run and 2-time NL RBI champion, Cubs retired his #14 jersey and he was a member of the MLB Century All-Star Team.

The one sad fact about his career, he never reached the postseason. Which is mind-boggling considering the Cubs in those days had some great players in Ron Santo, Ferguson Jenkins, Glenn Beckett, Don Kessinger, Billy Williams, Kenny Holtzman, Randy Hundley, Bill Hands and Phil Regan.

He reached the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility of 1977.

One fact that most fans don’t realize about Banks is that he was the Cubs’ first black player on 1953.

Banks signed with the Cubs in the fall of 1953. He made his major league debut at Wrigley Field on September 17 at age 22, and played in ten games. He became one of a handful of former Negro league players who joined MLB teams without playing a single minor league game.

In 1954, Banks’ double play partner during his official rookie season was Gene Baker, the second Cubs black player. Banks and Baker roomed together on road trips and became the first all-black double-play combination in major league history.

Ten days ago, the Cleveland Indians designated veteran right-hander Derek Lowe for assignment. That meant the team had ten days to trade, or release him. Today, Friday August 10 was the deadline.

The verdict is Cleveland has released Lowe.

Derek Lowe (courtesy of MLBpressbox.com)

There are reports on Twitter that Lowe will start or relieve and would like to go back to the National League.

The 39-year-old Lowe, posted a 5.52 ERA with 3.1 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 119 innings with Cleveland this year. He has a 15 million dollar salary, but the Braves and Indians are responsible for all but the pro-rated MLB minimum at this point. So any team can sign him and only have to pay the minimum salary.

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips is one of the most popular players on the team, along with Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs and Mike Leake.

Phillips has always been a fan favorite since coming over from the Cleveland Indians back in 2005 in a trade, but he really became even more popular when he started a Twitter account, regularly conversing with fans, allowing them to win prizes and letting them know what he is doing on and off the field.

The Reds management recognizing this and Phillips’ baseball talent, reached an agreement on a new six-year, $72.5 million contract on Tuesday.

The deal replaces the current one-year, $12.5 million deal and extends from the 2012 season to 2017.

Phillips was the Silver Slugger Award and Gold Glove in the National League in 2011.

With this current deal, the Reds have locked up the core of their team first baseman Joey Votto, right fielder Jay Bruce, lefty reliever Aroldis Chapman, ace starter Johnny Cueto and closer Sean Marshall.

Phillips currently is out of the lineup to let a hamstring strain heal.